The star who once faced Vietnam U23 causes concern for Pep Guardiola

Coach Pep Guardiola confirmed that defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who previously competed against Vietnam U23, will miss three matches due to injury.

Pep Guardiola brought some disappointing news to Manchester City fans by confirming that center-back Khusanov, who played against Vietnam U23 at the 2024 U23 Asian Championship, will be sidelined for at least three games due to an injury sustained in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

The Uzbek player was substituted just after halftime, and following medical checks, Manchester City's medical team confirmed he needs time to fully recover. “He will definitely be out for the next three matches,” Pep expressed his concern over Khusanov's injury. This is considered a significant loss for the team as Khusanov has been steadily proving his worth in Manchester City's defensive line.

Not only losing a defensive player, Manchester City is also facing a congested schedule. Pep Guardiola’s squad recently played three matches in one week with the same starting lineup, including intense Premier League games and a challenging away match at Arsenal. This has left the players physically and mentally exhausted.

“It truly was a very demanding week; we faced defeats and an extremely tense match. Then only three days of recovery, plus a late return from London, so the entire team’s fitness is currently not good. The players are genuinely very tired,” Pep Guardiola stated.

In this context, the Spanish coach confirmed he will make many personnel changes in the upcoming Carabao Cup third-round match against Huddersfield Town. This will be an opportunity for young players and those who rarely play to showcase themselves, while allowing key players to rest before returning to Premier League action.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola remains very cautious. He emphasized that playing against Championship or League One teams, especially away, always carries many risks. “I fully understand the significance of these kinds of matches. When you are away against teams from the Championship or League One, everything is always tough. They have huge motivation and are not afraid to play aggressively,” he said.

Therefore, Pep affirmed that his top priority is managing his players’ fitness, focusing on the upcoming match against Burnley at the weekend. “My biggest concern right now is not Huddersfield, but how to keep the players’ energy and focus for the Burnley game. We need to prepare as best as possible,” the Manchester City head coach emphasized.

Given the current situation, Manchester City will have to carefully balance results and squad depth, especially as the new season has just begun but pressure is already present on all fronts.